MANHATTAN — Two McDoubles, hold the pickles. A large order of fries and a large sweet tea.

This was the Jamar Samuels Value Meal, ordered regularly at participating McDonald's locations. It might sound like the ideal diet for someone trying to gain a few pounds, but it wasn't the nutrition plan Kansas State prescribed for the senior forward.

Beyond the calories, it was a matter of commitment. After four years on campus, Samuels hadn't become the consistent contributor coach Frank Martin envisioned. He appeared to regress as a junior, his production dipping from 11 points per game to 8.5, and Martin decided it was time for a real-world intervention.

"I said, 'Jamar, if you hadn't redshirted your first year, you'd be done,'" Martin recalled. "'What would you be doing?'"

The question hit home.

"He's right," Samuels remembers thinking. "I could be at home bagging groceries right now. I was 200 pounds and 6-8, and I didn't have a great year at all last year. He hit me with the reality check."

To reinforce the point, Martin issued a public challenge. He spoke candidly about Samuels' inconsistent work habits, a message that resonated when Samuels saw it on his computer screen during the summer.

"It was tough," Samuels said. "I was at home, and I saw it. It just showed me I've got to do better.

"The challenge that he gave me, it was unbelievable."

A successful senior year required total commitment. Samuels changed his diet, switching from McDonald's to Chipotle, where he eats up to three meals per day. He also dedicated himself to offseason workouts with strength coach Scott Greenawalt, bulking up to 233 pounds for his senior season.

"I definitely could be on the Bowflex commercial," he said.

Finishing through contact, which has been Samuels' struggle, becomes easier with the added muscle. He also hopes his new physique makes him a better rebounder.

"I'm finishing better around the rim," he said. "It's taking a lot of people to box me out. I can actually offensive rebound without getting knocked out of bounds."

If the Wildcats are going to reach their potential this season, they need Samuels to reach his. He is one of two seniors on the roster, the other being walk-on Victor Ojeleye, and K-State needs to fill a leadership void after the departure of Jacob Pullen.

The early indications are positive.

"He's had the most consistent stretch that he's had in his time here, across the board," Martin said.

The praise is tempered, because Samuels has been through this before. At his best, he's always been good. The low spots are his problem.

"I'm not going to jump through hoops yet because he's shown a pattern for four years and now he's acting differently for six months," Martin said. "Let's wait until the end of the year when he's got a college degree, when he's performed his last year of eligibility, before I get overly excited about maybe he's finally moved forward."

If nothing else, Samuels no longer needs the drive-thru for his midnight snacks.

"I've been buying groceries now," he said. "I can just wake up, make me a nice turkey sandwich and some Sunny Delight, and go right back to sleep."

K-STATE TIP-INS

■ K-State will conduct a closed-door scrimmage against Marquette on Sunday at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

■ Freshman Nino Williams didn't get the full benefit of his redshirt year last season. Williams, who suffered two concussions early in the year, wasn't cleared until late in the season and only participated in a handful of practices, Martin said.

■ K-State is waiting on junior college transfer James Watson to pass conditioning tests before he can join the Wildcats in practice.

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Sorry man, as a fellow KSU fan, I have to tell you that you have some of the facts wrong. In Beasley's lawsuit, he clearly states that he knew his mom was receiving benefits in exchange for him agreeing to hire Joel Bell as his agent once his college career would come to a close. There are also rumors starting to develop that players and coaches also knew about the benefits that Beasley was receiving and that Beasley was told to keep quiet about it or else it could lead to his mother being tossed out on to the street and his draft stock to fall in value which would lead to him missing out on millions of dollars.

Would you tell me who your sources are? I've read the lawsuit in which he states he was never told of the benefits until three months after signing with Miami. Maybe there's more to the story, but unless a lot more of these "rumors" you're talking about come to light, very little will happen.